Gudrat Hasanzade, Chairman of the Justice, Law, Democracy (AHD) Party and Member of Parliament, answered the questions of the party’s press service.
Xalqcəbhəsi.az presents the interview:
– Gudrat bey, in a program broadcast by one of the internet TVs operating via YouTube from abroad under the title “how our attention is stolen”, it was claimed that the government ensures the widespread coverage of insignificant and secondary issues in the mass media in order to prevent public discussion of problems that make people’s lives difficult. Thus, it distracts their attention from issues that are important to them. It would be interesting to know your thoughts on this matter…
– First of all, numerous issues that directly affect people’s lives, such as the economy, creation of jobs, demographic situation, healthcare, education, price increases, social security of citizens, existing problems in the transport infrastructure, the state of the rule of law, etc., are constantly discussed in the media. One can talk about the volume of these discussions. Of course, any government tries to ensure that public opinion does not turn into political pressure. Every government is also aware that distracting attention from problems is not a way out of the situation. To ensure citizen satisfaction, problems must be solved and reforms must be expanded. No propaganda can distract people’s attention from deteriorating living conditions. When children were 6 years old and entering the first grade, the Soviet Union declared them Octoberists (born of the October Revolution) and pinned a special badge on their chests; when they reached the 5th grade, they were called pioneers, at which time, along with a new, different badge, ties were hung around their necks. When they reached the 8th grade, they were admitted to the Komsomol and given a different badge. At the age of 18, the best ones were admitted to the ranks of the Communist Party. Throughout this period, the youth were brought up on the basis of communist ideology and in the spirit of loyalty to communism. At that time, along with closed borders, there were no alternative sources of information. However, in the Soviet Union, whose economy depended on oil, as soon as oil prices fell, corruption and fake statistics (perepiska) flourished, dissatisfied peoples rose up and wanted freedom, and the Soviet Union collapsed. This is because the ability of the refrigerator to influence public opinion is many times greater than the capabilities of the media. Ideological work is important when the refrigerator is full and people have at least minimum funds to meet their spiritual needs.
– How do you assess the President’s visit to Turkmenistan?
– Very good, apart from Tajikistan, the other Central Asian republics are Turkic republics. Iran’s proposal for cooperation in the CIS+1 format and Kyrgyzstan’s proposal for a single visa regime should be welcomed. Azerbaijan’s cooperation with neighboring countries in any format should give impetus to the development and security of our country. It would be good if Iran and Turkey became full members of the CIS and serious economic integration took place within the Commonwealth. If there is no serious economic opening and freedom in CIS countries, friendship between peoples and countries will depend on the will of the heads of state. In this case, economic growth will not be rapid and relations will not be sustainable.
– What is your attitude to the resolution on Azerbaijan adopted by the European Parliament yesterday?
– If the European Parliament wants to cooperate with Azerbaijan, then it should not take the path of pressuring us and discrediting us. All issues must be resolved at the negotiating table. Just as some issues are resolved. Diplomacy is in favor of this. If the parties sincerely want cooperation, they should back down from the approach “I am right, therefore cooperation can only be on my terms” and reach an understanding through mutual concessions. If they don’t want to, everyone can remain in their own position. If the conditions call into question Azerbaijan’s state independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, there can be no talk of any discussion. Other issues can be agreed upon. We have a serious need for close cooperation with the West, because we sell them mostly oil and gas products, which make up 90% of our exports. Even if not today, tomorrow they may abandon this. The total Gross Domestic Product of the Central Asian Republics is approximately 543 billion dollars. Sweden, which has a population similar to Azerbaijan, has a GDP of 623 billion dollars ($58,529 per capita). We need a liberal economy where state intervention in economic processes is minimized, Western investment, and modern technology. To achieve this, we must expand relations with the West.